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Eat & Drink Eat & Drink Categories Bars & Cafes
Hẻm Gems: A Japanese-American Time-Warp on Binh Thanh’s Backstreets
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- Published on Friday, 20 September 2019 14:00
- Written by Pavan Shamdasani. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Imagine a world where the 1950s never ended. Where Daddy-O’s race muscle cars all day and Peggy Sue’s dance the night away. Where it’s all one big small town of neon-lit diners and all-night gas stations. Welcome to Japan’s obsession with 1950s Americana.
Hẻm Gems: Hiding From Influencers in an Old-School Saigon Cafe
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- Published on Friday, 26 July 2019 10:00
- Written by Nhu Vo. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
"Saigon in its golden age was a time to be remembered and passed down to younger generations. The vintage aesthetic trend in Vietnam has been around for a couple of years now and for me, it is a cause for celebration," owner Anh Tuyet said of the trend that has swept cafés and restaurants citywide. Thị's customers, meanwhile, are here for more than just the aesthetic.
Hẻm Gems: On the Nguyen Du Sidewalk, Connoisseur Coffee at Pavement Prices
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- Published on Friday, 14 June 2019 12:00
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Contemporary coffee culture in Saigon is largely one of extremes. On one end, enthusiasts at trendy shops source, grow, roast and meticulously prepare some of the finest beans in the world, and on the other, humble carts serve cheap cups on hectic street corners. And in between? Cà Phê Tám Hường. The tiny stand situated in a shaded spot on Nguyen Du Street serves coffee fit for a connoisseur at pavement prices.
Hẻm Gems: In Saigon's First Shots Bar, Usain Bolt and Princess Peach in Test Tubes
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- Published on Friday, 24 May 2019 11:00
- Written by Mervin Lee. Photos by Mervin Lee.
Pham Ngu Lao Street, along with its sister street Bui Vien, has been known for almost two decades to foreigners as the perfect place to drink, bunk-in and conveniently repeat. In other words, a booze-filled heaven complete with affordable hostels and hotels for first-timers in Vietnam.
Hẻm Gems: Coconut Coffee and Banana Bread in a Quiet Corner of Thao Dien
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- Published on Friday, 10 May 2019 13:00
- Written by Killian Davern. Photos by Killian Davern.
Thao Dien is known to some as a quiet neighborhood, despite its ongoing development projects. Upscale restaurants and fancy cafes are plentiful, serving a range of gourmet food and drinks. Yet, in between high-end eateries and tube houses, at times we can find a few places where we kick off our shoes and feel at home, such as this cozy cafe near the Thao Dien Market.
Hẻm Gems: When a Saigon Cafe Gets Its Hanoi Quirks Just Right
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- Published on Friday, 05 April 2019 10:00
- Written by Tran Le. Photos by Vinxent Nguyen.
There are three H’s that best encompass Vietnam: Hanoi, the capital; Hue, the ancient capital; and Ho Chi Minh City, the economic center. While I am still struck by Hue’s vibrant culture, my memories of Hanoi are not as vivid. However, I instantly relived Hanoi moments after my visit to Ngách 160 café.
Hẻm Gems: Authentic French Pastries in an Unexpected Part of Town
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- Published on Friday, 22 March 2019 13:00
- Written by Mervin Lee. Photos by Mervin Lee.
Perhaps a story not too unfamiliar to many: Tom Nguyen grew up in France as a French-Vietnamese. Any similarity in background with other Viet Kieu, however, ends rather quickly. About two years ago, Nguyen returned to Saigon with his partner to start LT Pâtisserie. What makes his venture special is the unique choice of location.
Hẻm Gems: While the Day Away Under the Green Canopy of Cỏ Cafe
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- Published on Friday, 22 February 2019 13:00
- Written by Khoi Pham. Photos by Kevin Lee.
Under a thick canopy of verdant vines and minuscule pink flowers, it’s easy to indulge in the cooling comfort of a glass of iced tamarind juice and while the day away.
Hẻm Gems: Lost in the Half-Childlike, Half-Adult World of 'The Little Prince'
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- Published on Friday, 11 January 2019 12:00
- Written by Katherine Nguyen. Photos by Katherine Nguyen.
Remember the tale about a little boy who travels planet to planet on a quest to discover and retrieve lessons about the adult world? This cafe is yet another untold chapter of that story.
Hẻm Gems: At Thương Library, a Shrine to Leonard Cohen and How the Light Gets In
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- Published on Tuesday, 11 December 2018 16:00
- Written by Khoi Pham. Photos by Mervin Lee.
At the risk of appearing like a pretentious prig, I will begin this Hẻm Gem review with the introduction of a foreign word: the weirdly specific concept of smultronstället.
Hẻm Gems: Come for the Architecture, Stay for the Architecture
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- Published on Friday, 09 November 2018 13:00
- Written by Michael Tatarski. Photos by Mervin Lee.
In an age when seemingly every building in Saigon has been knocked down for redevelopment at least once, it's rare to be able to spend time in a truly unique architectural gem.
